New UK Government requirements mean that people must show photo ID, when voting at a polling station, in the upcoming parish council elections on May 4.
Acceptable forms of identification are:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Blue Badge
- Identity card with PASS mark
- Certain concessionary travel cards
- Biometric immigration document
- Defence identity card
- National identity card
Residents who do not have an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.
They can also apply by completing a paper application form available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-voter-authority-certificate-by-post-if-youre-living-in-the-uk and returning it to the Electoral Registration Officer, Market Hall, Market Place, Whitehaven, CA28 7JG.
Residents can find out more about applying for a free voter ID at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the local elections in England is 5pm on Tuesday, April 25.